P01.15. Multiple Myeloma, chemotherapy and curcumin

Purpose Multiple Myeloma is one of the hematological malignancies that is caused by an unregulated proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells in the bone marrow leading to anemia, thrombocytopenia, bone destruction and pathological fractures. Accumulation of M-protein in the plasma suppresses normal level of immunoglobulins. Chemotherapy is based on the combination of alkylating agents, use of high dose of corticosteroids, combination of antimitotic agents, proteosome inhibitors and immunomodulators. Large numbers of people with Multiple Myeloma are not sensitive enough to standard chemotherapy or develop severe side effects that lead to termination of conventional treatment. Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound of turmeric that has diverse pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiproliferative and angiogenic activities. Several studies showed that curcumin can prevent drug resistance and increase the effect of several chemotherapeutic agents.